Manure-spreader.



M. H. MADSEN.

MANURE SPREADER.

Patented July 24, 1217.

2 SHEETS-SHEETI APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21

M. PL MADSEN.

MANURE SPREADER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 1914.

Patented July 24, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

L;\ W": m M -l" M "*1 I; n W 11 11 n n n g m I] T] H E [i I] in m Q o c o a o o m V I Q) H H H E I] nw al'uenlom I ZMXM 1] ii I] I! ll ll MADS H. MADSEN, OF KIMBALLTON, IOWA.

MANURE-SPREADER.

Application filed September 21, 1914.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, MADS H. MADSEN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Kimballton, in the county of Audubon and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Manure-Spreader, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a manure spreader of simple, durable and inexpensive construction.

More particularly, it is my object to provide a manure spreader of the type having a bed in the bottom of which is mounted a movable platform, which machine has mechanism for operating the movable platform from traction wheels, and which has mechanism for automatically reversing the direction of movement of the moving platform when said platform reaches either the forward or rearward limit of its movement.

Still a further object is to provide such a device having a gearing mechanism interposed between the drive wheels and the spreader cylinder, and gearing mechanism for operating the movable platform from the spreader cylinder, and suitable means for controlling the relative speed of movement of the endless platform and the spreader cylinder, and for readily throwing the spreader cylinder out of gear with the platform.

Still a further object is to provide in such a mechanism suitable means for controlling the speed of movement of the movable platform with relation to that of the spreader cylinder and the drive wheels.

My invention consists in certain details, in the construction, combination and arrangement of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the manure spreader, embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 shows a detail, sectional view of the same, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a detail view of part of the ratchet mechanism.

Fig. 4 shows a top or plan view of the manure spreader, the seat supporting members being shown in section.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24L, 1917.

Serial No. 862,819.

Fig. 5 shows a detail view of the band brake, and

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the part of the mechanism at the front of the manure spreader.

In the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally the bed or box of a manure spreader mounted on the front wheels 11 and on the rear wheels 12. The rear wheels 12 rotate on the axle 13. Mounted on the forward end of the bed 10 is a seat 14. Suitably mounted at the ends of the bed 10 are transverse shafts 15 and 16 on which shafts near their ends are mounted sprocket gears 17.

It will be understood that the sprocket gears on the shaft 16 are in line with the respective sprocket gears on the shaft 15. Sprocket chains 17 travel on the respective pairs of alined sprocket gears. The chains 17 carry transverse platform members 18, which form a movable platform. The platform made up of the transverse members 18 is of suflicient length to make a bottom for the manure spreader. Suitably mounted at the rear of the bed 10 on the shaft 19 is a spreader cylinder 20. Suitably mounted on the frame of the bed 10 is a shaft 21. Mounted on one of the wheels 12 is a sprocket gear 22 which is in line with the sprocket gear 23 on the shaft 21. A chain 24 travels on the sprocket gears 22 and 23. Mounted on the shafts 19 and 21 are pinions 25 and 26 in mesh with each other.

The gearing devices just described transmit power from the wheel 12 to the cylinder 20 and rotate the cylinder 20 in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the wheel 12. Mounted on the shaft 15 is a double ratchet gear 27, having formed on half of its periphery teeth 28, inclined in one direction and on the other half of its periphery teeth 29, inclined in a different direction. Fixed to the shaft 15, outside the double ratchet gear 27 is an upwardly inclined lever 30. Mounted on one end of the shaft 19 is a crank wheel 31. Pivoted off center to the crank wheel 31 is a pitman 32, one end of which is pivoted to the upper end of the lever 30. The lever 30 is preferably formed with two arms, as shown in Fig. 2, one arm being mounted in the shaft 15 on each side of the double ratchet 27. Pivotally mounted between the arms of the lever 30 above the ratchet 27 by means of the pin 3 1 is a double pawl 33, having arms extending from its pivotal point downwardly in opposite directions. It might further be stated that said double pawl 33 is rigidly connected to the member 3 1. One arm of said pawl is adapted to engage the teeth 28 and the other is adapted to engage the teeth 29. Pivoted to the box 10 near the ratchet 27 is a locking pawl 36, which is adapted to engage the teeth 28 to prevent movement of the ratchet 27 in one direction and to thereby preventthe platform 18 from moving forwardly in the machine whenthe machine is loaded.

For shifting the positions of the double pawl members 33 automatically during the operation of the manure spreader, the following means has beenprovided: Mounted on the pin3l between the inner arm of the lever 30 and the box 10 is an arm 37, extending downwardly and pivoted at its lower end to the rod 38 which extends forwardly along the. outside of the bed 10 to the front end of the spreader. A short shaft 39 is rotatably mounted in the front end of the wagon bed above the rod 38 and on the outer end of saidshort shaft is an arm 40, the lower end of which is pivoted to said rod 38. On the inside of the wagon bed a downwardly extending arm &1 is fixed on the shaft 39. Pivoted between its ends to the side of the wagon bed near the forward end thereof just below the rod 38 is'an arm 42. The upper end of the arm 12 extends adjacent to the rod 38 between two nuts 13, spaced slightly apart on said rod. The

lower end of the arm a2 is bent inwardly at 43. The parts just described are so arranged that when the members 18 move for wardly below the bed 10, until practically all of said members 18 have passed over the {rear shaft 15 and the load has been wholly discharged, then the forward members 18 on the lower portions of the chains 17 engage the portion 13 of the arm 12 and force said portion forwardly, thereby forcing the arm 38 rearwardly. The arm 37 is thereby moved rearwardly, thereby rotating the pin 34 slightly and tilting the double pawl 33 until the forward arm thereof engages the teeth 29 and the rearward arm thereof clears the teeth 28. Fixed on the arm 37 is a rod 44, extending rearwardly and having on it a nut 42, adapted when the arm 38 is moved rearwardly to engage the pawl 36 and move said pawl 36 out of en agement with the It will readily be seen that when the wagon is drawn forward after the operation just described has been completed, the

movement of the movable platform will be f reversed and the portion thereof below the bed will be moved rearwardly while the portion thereof within the bed will be moved forwardly toward position for receiving another load. Mounted on the forward upper member 18 is a catch device 45, adapted when the forward upper member 18 is moved to the front end of the bed to engage the arm 11 and move said arm 41 forwardly, thereby rotating the shaft 39 and moving the arm 40 forwardly. By said movement, the rod 38 is moved forwardly, thereby tilting the pawls to position where the right hand arm thereof clears the teeth 29 and the left hand arm thereof engages the teeth 28. The movement of the movable platform is again reversed and when the wagon is moved said movable platform is movedin the direction for discharging the load.

Secured to the arm 10 and to the bed above the shaft 39 is a spring &6, which tends to draw the rod 38 to the extreme limit of its movement as soon as the spring 16 is swung past center in either direction by the movement of the arm #10. Pivoted to the shaft 15 is an upwardly extending arm 17, on which is a lug 4:7 which extends into the path of movement of the. arm 37. Mounted in the upper end of the arm a7 is a pin as which extends through an elongated slot 4:9 in a horizontal rod 50 which extends forwardly along the outside of the bed 10 and is pivoted at its forward end to a lever 51. On the lever 51 is a pawl 52, adapted to coact with a toothed sector 53.

Secured to the pawl 36 and the arm 17 is r a coil spring 5% which yieldingly holds the arm 47 at the rearward limit of its movement with relation to the slot 19. On the arm 30 is a lug 55, adapted to engage the arm e7 in certain positions of the movement of the arm 30.

I shall now describe the practical operation of the arm 17 and the parts connected therewith and their functions in the machine.

Assuming the lever 51 to be set in substantially upright position, then as the pitman 32 reciprocatesand the arm 30 is moved forwardly in the machine, the arm 37 engages said arm 47 whereby the pawl 33 is tilted somewhat. To prevent such a tilting as would swing the pawl too far and operate the rod 38 to reverse the action of the pawls, the lug 55 is provided. Said lug engages the arm 37 before thepawl 33 tilts more than enough to, allow the left hand engaging member thereof to clear the teeth 28 readily and forces the arm' 17'forwardly in the slot 19. By adjusting the rod the pitman 32, as may be desired.

. sired by the movement of the arm 47 the spring 54 exerts yielding pressure on said arm to draw it rearwardly. It therefore appears that when the arm 30 begins its rearward movement, the spring 54 will draw the arm 47 rearwardly at the same time thereby continuing to hold the arm 37 in position to maintain the pawl 33 in its tilted position so that the pawl 33 clears one, two or more of the teeth 28 before engaging one of said teeth during the rearward movement of the arm 30. As soon as the lug 55 leaves the arm 47, which occurs when the bolt or pin 48 reaches the rear end of the slot 49, then the arm 47 ceases to affect the arm 37, which is quickly drawn by means of the spring 46 to position for causing the left hand pawl member 33 to engage the teeth 28. By varying the position of the rod 50 the pawl 33 can be caused to move the ratchet 27 one, two or three notches with each reciprocation of It will thus be seen that while a load is being discharged, the speed of rearward movement of the upper portions of the chains 17 may be regulated as may be de operator. As will readily be seen the pawl 36 prevents the chains 17 from traveling in such a way as to carry the load forwardly during the unloading process. Such a traveling movement might occur where the wagon was traveling on a down grade. To prevent the free movement of the chains 17 rearwardly when the wagon was loaded, and referring now to the upper portion of the chains which support the members 18 which carry the load, means have been provided which will be described. Such a free rearward movement of the load might occur while the wagon was climbing a heavy up grade. Mounted on the shaft 16 in front of the wagon is a band brake 56 controlled by a foot pedal 57, which can be readily operated from the drivers seat.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that my improved manure spreader is provided with an apron mounted on endless chains and operated from the spreader cylinder 20. The automatic devices 42 and 45, hereinbefore described, and the parts connected therewith are so constructed and arranged that when the unloading of the wagon has been completed the movement of the chains and the members 18 carried thereby will be automatically reversed and said parts will be moved to position where they are above the bottom of the bed 10, when their direction of movement will again be automatically reversed.

It will be understood that suitable clutch devices, not shown, may doubtless be employed on my manure spreader for throwing the wheels 12 out of gear with the operative parts during ordinary travel on a road, etc. The endless chains and. the members 18 are operated from the spreading cylinder so that the movable platform will be operated only when the cylinder is operated and the speed of the movable platform will bear a certain relation to the speed of the spreading cylinder. It appears, however, from the foregoing description that the relative speeds of the movable platform and the spreading cylinder may be varied somewhat by longitudinally moving the rod 50 and thereby affecting the pawl 33 in the manner hereinbefore described, whereby the pawl 33 will move the ratchet 27 a distance of one or more notches as the case may be with each revolution of the spreader cylinder. It also appears that means have been provided for preventing free movement of the movable platform when it is desired to prevent such movement. It may be mentioned that the lever 51 may be set in such a position as to .52"

cause the pawl 33 to be inoperative. This is accomplished by moving the lever 51 in the manner hereinbefore described, so that the pawl while reciprocating with the lever 30 will be held out of engagement with all but one tooth, so that while the pawl moves it does not affect the ratchet 27.

It will be understood that some changes may be made in the details of the construction of my manure spreader, and it is my intention to cover by this application any such changes which may be included within the scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a manure spreader, a frame, supporting wheels therefor, transverse shafts mounted in said frame, an endless platform mounted on said shafts, a spreader cylinder shaft, means for transmitting power from some of said wheels to said spreader cylinder 7 shaft, an arm pivotally mounted on one of said first shafts, a wheel mounted on said spreader cylinder shaft, a pitman pivoted at one end 01f center to said wheel and at the other end to said arm, mounted on one of said first shafts adjacent to said arm, a double pawl pivoted 011 said arm and adapted in different positions of its movement to be operatively connected with the different members of said ratchet, automatic means for changing the position of said pawl when said movable platform reaches either limit of its movement, adjustable means for controlling said pawl for causing it to engage one or more teeth of said ratchet at each reciprocation of said pitman, for reducing the movement of said movable platform with relation to the speed of said cylinder wheel, said means eomprising an arm fixed with relation to said pawl,

a rod pivoted to said arm, a trigger member pivoted on said frame arranged in the path of said movable platform and pivotally connected with said rod, a shaft, an arm fixed to said shaft and pivoted to said rod, a seea double ratchet end arm fixed to said last described shaft, and means on said movable platform :adapted to engage said last described arm.

2. In a manure spreader, a frame, sup- 5 porting wheels therefor, an endless platform, a spreader cylinder shaft, means for transmitting power from someof said wheels to said last shaft, a double ratchet operatively connected withsaid endless platform, an arm pivotally mounted adjacent thereto, a wheel mounted on said spreader cylinder shaft, a pitman pivoted at one end off centeri'to said wheel and atthe other end :to said arm, a double pawl carried by said arm and adapted .in different positions of its movement to be operatively connected with the different members of said ratchet, automatic means for changing the position of said pawl when said movable platform reaches either limit of its movement, adjustable means for controlling said pawl for causing it to engage one or more teeth of said ratchet at each reciprocation of said pitman, for varying the speed ofsaid :movable platform with relation to the speed of said cylinder wheel, said means compri ing an adjustable device operatively connected with said pawl for holding itout of engagement with the ratchet teeth duringa part of the reciprocatory-movement of said arm.

8. In a manure spreader, a frame, supporting wheels therefor, an :endless platform, a spreader cylinder shaft, means for transmitting power from some of said wheels to said last shaft, a double :ratchet operatively connected with said endless platform, an :arm pivotally imounted adjacent thereto,a wheel mounted onsaid spreader cylinder shaft,:a pitman pivotedcatone end off centerto. said wheel and at the otheriend to said arm,:'adoubleepawl carried by said arm-and adapted in diii'erentpositions ofits I movement to'be-operatively connected with the different members of said rachet, adj ustable means for controlling said pawl for causing it :to engage one or :more teeth :of said-ratchet at eachreciprocation of said pitman for varyingthe speed of said cylinder wheel, said means comprising an adjustable device operatively connected with saidpawl for holding it outof engagement with-the ratchet'teeth during a part of'the reciprocatory movement-of said arm, and a second pawl pivoted to the frame adjacent to the ratchet and adapted to engage one member thereof 1 to prevent movement when the first pawl isout of engagement therewith.

i. In a manure spreader, a body, front and rear supporting wheels therefor, a .ro-

taryspreader cylinder arranged near .one end of the body, a traveling apron adapted to operate longitudinally of the body, gearing mechanism for transmitting rotation from the rear wheels to said spreader cylinder, means for operatively connect- .pawl out ing said spreader cylinder and apron and said :means including a ratchet and a pawl :and means for adjusting said pawl gand the motion of the ratchet when :the apron reaches either limit of its movement.

In a manure spreader,'a wheel mounted frame, an endless apron thereon, a

spreader cylinder mounted adjacent to the ear end-of the apron, 'means for imparting =1Ot21it1OIl to the spreader cylinder, a double ratchet operatively connected with ,the apron, an arm pivoted adjacent to said ratchet, .a double .ended pawl pivoted intermediate of its ends to said arm, eachend thereof rbeingadapted to-cngage one set of teeth on the ratchet when the pawl is =ina predetermined position, means .for swinging the arm on;1ts;pivot from the -rotat1onofthe spreader cylinder, a second pawl pivoted to the frame adjacent to said ratchet ,and adapted ,whenxengaged therewith to prevent rotation thereofin one direction, and'means for automatically throwing said second of engagement when-the ratchet is being rotated in the opposite direction through the movement of said -arm;and doubleipawl.

6. In a manure spreader, a wheel-mounted frame, an endless apron i thereon, a spreader cylinder mountedadjacent to the rear end of the apron,:means for imparting rotation to the spreader cylinder, a double ratchet operatively connected with :the apron, an arm pivoted adjacent :to said ratchet, a double ended pawl pivoted =inter mediate of its ends :to said arm,-each end thereof'beingadapted toengage oneset of teeth on'the ratchet whenithepawl :is in a predeterminedposition, means for swinging the arm on its pivotby the ,rotatiomo'fthe spreadercylinder, a. second pawl pivoted to the frame adjacent to said iratchet and adapted when engaged therewith to prevent rotation thereof in one direction, and means for automatically throwing said second pawlout of engagement when the r-atchetis being rotated :in the opposite direction through the movement ofsaid arm and. donble pawl, and means adapted to prevent :movementof the apron in either direction not causedzby the operation of the ratchet and double pawl.

7. In a gearing for opei'atingtheeapron on a manure spreader, a shaft adapted-tobe operatively connected with the apron, .a doublexratchet fixed: to: the shaft, an arm pivoted at one end to said shaft, a double pawl; pivoted to said arm and adapted'to have each-end engage one setof the ratchet teethwhen the pawl is in certain predetermined positions, a second arm pivoted to said shaftadjacent to the first arm, adjustable means on said on the double pawl, and means for disengagsecond arm adapted to coact with the double pawl and first arm to hold one end of the pawl out of engagement with the teeth during a predetermined portion of the movement of the first arm, a second pawl adapted to be pivoted to the frame of a manure spreader and to engage one set of the teeth mg said pawl from the teeth When the 13 ratchet is being rotated in one dlrection.

Des Moines, Iowa, September 3, 1914.

MADS H. MADSEN. WVitnesses:

HANs C. HANSEN, HANS MADSEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

